Britain's most famous female scientist has been snubbed by the UK's elite academic club for the second year running. The Royal Society yesterday released the list of the 44 new fellows it was welcoming into the world's oldest scientific academy - and Susan Greenfield was not on it.

She studies a subject so complex it's hard to find the right questions, let alone the answers. So why is neuroscientist Susan Greenfield contributing to a little book called 100 Things to Do Before You Die?

In the media and on the lecture circuit she is a star, a rapid-fire expert in neurochemistry. She has been showered with honours. But she is not a fellow of the Royal Society, and the leaking of her rejection rankles.

The Royal Society yesterday sought to silence a whispering campaign against Baroness Susan Greenfield after confirming that the controversial scientist is on its list of candidates for a fellowship this year.

As another female nominee for Royal Society fellowship this year, I find the publication of Professor Susan Greenfield's nomination and the adverse comments quite appalling (Royal Society split over fellowship, February 7).